Designer Perspective

Achieve this Look with

A client-centered living space designed with fresh, clean functionality; beautifully envisioned and artistically installed.

The clients of this 3,500 square-foot home requested a look that’s modern yet comfortable, with large windows for soaking up the natural beauty surrounding the home. Lori Wiles, ASID, worked with builder Paul Brundell ofAllan Custom Homes to make this happen.

An open-concept main floor offers abundant seating that translates into an informal space that’s great for entertaining. The lighting is fun and modern; square LED recessed lights provide ambient lighting while a sleek chandelier serves as a unique focal point over the dining table, and slender glass pendants hang over the enormous wedge-shaped kitchen island. A reflective metal mosaic tile backsplash shines above the stove, playing off the sleek, stainless appliances. Warm red walls complement and enliven the wood cabinetry and flooring throughout the cooking and eating areas.

The living room maintains the contemporary feel with a soft modern style that’s very comfortable. Oversized commercial windows read contemporary while offering a spectacular view of the surrounding nature. Wiles designed an impressive sea stone fireplace featuring Eldorado Stone, stretching from floor to ceiling providing a sleek natural element that renders the room cozy.

Bright splashes of color keep the spaces interesting and fun with a red coffee table sitting in the middle of the living room, for example, and the nearby handcrafted dark wood dining table is paired with yellow chairs. A beautiful collection of artwork that’s meaningful to the homeowners also celebrates color and provides interest. The entryway space, for example, was specifically designed to accommodate a favorite piece of artwork by local artist Priscilla Steele.

Very large windows invite nature into the master bedroom, too, where green leaf wallpaper and wooden end tables continue the motif. Calming colors, textures, and shapes—and again large windows and an abundance of wood—provide the ultimate relaxing atmosphere in the master bath.

A slight shift from soft modern to industrial modern takes place in the basement, with its exposed beam ceiling and sealed concrete floor. Old doors found at the Iowa City ReStore are repurposed to bring some historical sentiment to the space.

Corrugated metal ceilings and concrete floors continue the industrial look in the basement’s guest bedrooms. Heirloom furniture combines with reclaimed architectural elements in this space the homeowners call the “Bloft”, or Basement Loft.

The beauty of the design of this home is that it doesn’t just pick one style and do it well, rather it customizes a contemporary style to incorporate all the client’s needs including comfort, excitement, and a touch of nature.

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Choosing the Right Stone

Eldorado Stone’s extensive line of products - from individually manufactured stone veneers to brick veneers to panelized stacked stone veneer - are designed to complement a variety of architectural styles.